Fun to have the opening game and the Thanksgiving games.
Opening the season at KC and vs Baltimore is tough. O'Brien though already planning on being veteran-heavy and Watson hopefully near full health will help. While 0-2 is probably likely, a hot start will really set the team up for potential playoff positioning later.
Also, having two of the toughest, in-conference game early in the season, given the uncertainty of COVID-19 delays, means erasing them from the results could also boost potential playoff positioning if you think they're both losses. Also, playing at KC in Thursday night primetime potentially in an empty or less-than-full Arrowhead would have to help the Texans. And again, Watson in primetime is usually pretty good.
Alternatively, the rest of the schedule is nearly all noon kickoffs. Watson has had more sluggish first halves in noon kicks than at any other gametime. Hopefully that will prove to simply be a youthful immaturity trend that he improves with age.
Week 8 for a bye works. Middle of the campaign, plus an extra week to prepare for a road division rival. It also comes before a 4-game stretch of 3 games on the road including the short Thanksgiving week.
Potentially a cold December road game at Chicago in Week 14, but the temps may be mitigated some by the noon kickoff. Historically, the Texans (unlike their predecessors) haven't been affected too much by the cold.
Then close out the season with two home games. The Week 17 finale versus the Titans could prove pivotal for either or both teams once again for clinching a playoff spot and/or positioning.
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